"Primary Doctor of Patient 'Reconfirmed COVID-19 After Discharge' Says It Is Judged Not to Be Reinfection"

Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jung] A woman in her 70s (the 25th confirmed case) who was diagnosed as fully recovered from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was found to be 'reconfirmed' positive just six days later, and medical staff believe the virus was reactivated.

On the 1st, Kim Euisuk, the attending physician of patient number 25 and a professor of infectious diseases at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, said at a press conference held at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, "It is reasonable to consider this as reactivation of the virus rather than reinfection."

Professor Kim explained, "There are rare cases where pathogens causing acute infectious diseases remain in the patient's body and relapse, and this is presumed to be such a case." He added, "When the patient was discharged, outpatient follow-up was scheduled for two weeks later, and during this period, she reportedly stayed at home and maintained self-isolation."

The woman in her 70s, who was the 25th confirmed COVID-19 case in Korea, was diagnosed positive again less than a week after being discharged last month. She had been living in Siheung-si, Gyeonggi Province, with her son (the 26th patient) and daughter-in-law (the 27th patient), who had visited Guangdong Province, China, and was confirmed positive on the 9th of last month.

She had been receiving treatment at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital and was discharged on the 22nd of last month, but on the 27th, she voluntarily reported to the public health center due to mild symptoms. The next day in the afternoon, she was confirmed positive again.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.